TANKARD - CHEMICAL INVASION OIS 12" LP Vinyl Album
- Thrash Brilliance Meets Controversial Chaos.
Tankard's
"Chemical Invasion,"
a landmark in German thrash metal, emerged in 1987 with a unique focus on the Reinheitsgebot controversy of 1516. The album's rebellious spirit, blending aggressive riffing and irreverent humor, tackled societal norms. Musically, it delivered a relentless onslaught of thrash brilliance, solidifying Tankard's position in the genre. "Chemical Invasion" remains a pivotal release, reflecting the band's bold approach to both music and social commentary.
In the world of thrash metal history, Tankard's second studio album, "Chemical Invasion," stands as a potent testament to the band's sonic prowess and unapologetic lyrical approach. Released as a 12" LP Vinyl album, this iconic record not only marked a milestone in Tankard's career but also ventured into the realms of social commentary, addressing the Reinheitsgebot controversy of 1516.
The creation history of "Chemical Invasion" is deeply rooted in the thriving German thrash metal scene of the late 1980s. The album emerged in 1987, a time when the genre was experiencing a surge in popularity, thanks to bands like Kreator, Destruction, and Sodom. Tankard, hailing from Frankfurt, was poised to make its mark with a distinctive style that blended aggressive riffing, blistering solos, and a healthy dose of irreverent humor.
The album's title, "Chemical Invasion," hints at the thematic core that sets it apart. In a departure from traditional thrash metal themes centered around warfare and aggression, Tankard delved into the socio-political landscape. The Reinheitsgebot, or Beer Purity Law of 1516, became a focal point, showcasing the band's willingness to tackle controversial subjects with a tongue-in-cheek attitude.
The Reinheitsgebot, established in the Duchy of Bavaria, stipulated that beer could only be brewed with barley, water, and hops, and later yeast when its role was discovered. Tankard, known for their love of beer and revelry, used this historical regulation as a canvas to express their views on conformity and societal norms.
Musically, the album is a relentless onslaught of thrash brilliance. Tracks like "Total Addiction," "Chemical Invasion," and "Farewell to a Slut" showcase Tankard's ability to deliver high-speed, headbanging anthems. The raw energy and technical proficiency displayed on this album solidified Tankard's position among the leading forces in the German thrash metal scene.
Music Genre:
Speed Thrash Alcoholic Metal
Album Production Information:
Produced by Harris Johns
Harris Johns – Producer, sound engineer
If your record has that gritty Berlin-concrete punch, there's a decent chance Johns was behind the glass. Read more...
Harris Johns is the Berlin-bred producer/engineer who's been putting steel-toed boots on tape since 1978. I first clock him in the late 70s punk grind, then the early 80s when his Music Lab rooms started spitting out Slime (1983) and Daily Terror (1984). Mid-80s through the early 90s he helped define Teutonic thrash for the Noise Records crowd: Grave Digger and Helloween (1984-85), then Sodom, Kreator, Tankard, Voivod and Exumer (1986-88). He kept the soldering iron hot into the 90s-2000s (Sodom again, 1997-2001), later taking on international metal like Enthroned (2004-07). After a decade at his countryside "Spiderhouse," he reopened Music Lab Berlin in 2007 and ran it until 2016 - still producing and teaching the craft.
Sound/recording engineering Harris Johns, Axel Katzmann, Andreas Geremia
Recorded at Musiclab/Berlin from 21st of June to the 1st of July and 11th to 17th August
Album cover design by Sebestian Kruger/Becker-Derouet Agentur, Inner sleeves by Buffo
Uwe "Buffo" Schnädelbach a German Photographer, Editor and Band manager (Tankard). During the 1980s he has photographed a dozen of Heavy Metal bands.
Photography by Buffo Schnädelbach and Uwe Lerch (Gerre)
Uwe "Buffo" Schnädelbach - Photographer, editor, band manager (Tankard)
Uwe "Buffo" Schnädelbach is the kind of behind-the-scenes metal lifer I love: camera in one hand, scene control in the other. Since 1986 he's been Tankard's manager, while also writing/editing for Rock Hard, and his photos stamped the era on releases by Exumer (1986) and Kreator (1987-1988). I spot his credit in the sleeve notes and instantly expect sweat, denim, and flash-lit chaos. He kept snapping into the next wave too, with Blind Guardian credits from 1990-2003.
This album includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by Tankard
Media Format:
12" vinyl LP
Year & Country:
1987 Made in Germany
Band Members and Musicians on: Tankard Chemical Invasion
Band-members, Musicians and Performers
Andreas "Gerre" Geremia - Vocals, Bass(since 1982 with the Tankard band)
Andy Boulgaropoulos - Guitar ( with Tankard from 1982 until 1995)
Axel Katzmann - Guitar (with Tankard from 1982 until 1995)
Frank Thorwarth - Bass (with Tankard since 1982)
Oliver Werner - drums, (performing with "Tankard" from 1982 until 1989 , after which he joined the "Chase Crime" band in 1989)
Complete Track Listing of: Tankard Chemical Invasion
The Song/tracks on "Tankard Chemical Invasion" are:
Side One:
Total Addiction
Tantrum
Don't Panic
Puke
For a Thousand Beers
Side Two:
Chemical Invasion
Farewell to a Slut
Traitor
Alcohol
Album Cover Photo Gallery of: Tankard Chemical Invasion
Tankard’s Chemical Invasion (1987): Thrash Metal Mayhem Meets Mad Science.
This is the album cover art for Tankard’s Chemical Invasion. The artwork perfectly embodies the band’s thrash metal ethos and satirical approach. It depicts a mad scientist in a chaotic laboratory, mixing a green chemical into a frothing beer, with a sinister grin that suggests dangerous experimentation. The laboratory is filled with beakers, test tubes, and distillation equipment, creating a visually vibrant and chaotic environment. A skeleton looms ominously in the background, adding a touch of macabre humor.
The bold Tankard logo, styled with jagged, fiery edges, hovers at the top, while the album title, Chemical Invasion, is written in a dripping, molten-like font that mirrors the intensity of the scene. The exaggerated features of the scientist and the over-the-top scenario reflect the band’s penchant for humor and their love for beer, which is a recurring theme in their music.
This cover captures the high-energy, irreverent tone of the album and the thrash metal scene of the 1980s.
Photos of Tankard band-members on the album back cover
The custom "Noise International" inner sleeve with thumbnails of the albums available in their catalog.
The lyrics of "Chemical Invasion" printed on the album's inner sleeve
Close-up of the Grey "Noise" N 0096 Record label Side A
Close-up of the Grey "Noise" N 0096 Record label Side B
Note: the above pictures are actual photos of the album and allow you to judge the quality of cover. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash.
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